Since 1992, Jay Leno‘s top Tonight Show opening monologue target has been Bill Clinton, according to a study released by the Center for Media and Public Affairs at George Mason University. O.J. Simpson and Michael Jackson topped his list of celebrity targets, but their tally is chump change compared to Clinton’s, according to the study that tracked nearly 44,000 Tonight Show jokes.

Clinton was the subject of one out of every 10 gags about public affairs and/or public figures in his monologues, and O.J. Simpson was his top celebrity target. The study tallied 43,892 jokes about public figures and public affairs from 1992, when Leno became host of Tonight Show, through January 24, 2014.

Clinton accounts for 4,607 of that joke total. For comparison sake, George W. Bush came in for 3,239 jabs, and Jay targeted Kim Kardashian a total of just 57 times, according to the study. Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, Clinton’s VPOTUS Al Gore, and Monica Lewinsky accounted for four of Leno’s top seven targets. Overall, the Top-20 list includes the past four presidents and vice-presidents, as well as the past six failed major party nominees for president. Democrats were the targets of 10,885 jokes, 15% more than the 9,465 jokes directed at Republicans. The study says that’s because Leno frequently targeted presidents and Democrats occupied the White House in 13 of his 22 years as Tonight Show host.

13 Comments

The study fails to mention that all of those Clinton jokes were actually told in the last week.

A • on Feb 5, 2014 7:37 am

Don’t they have better things to research.

merrrranga • on Feb 5, 2014 7:37 am

HEADLINE: Hack Comedian Makes Hack Jokes.

Jack Wahl • on Feb 5, 2014 7:37 am

Nothing new here… Leno has always been a big ol whore for the Republicans

merrrrrranga • on Feb 5, 2014 7:37 am

we had a Dem prez for nearly 60% of his reign. and he made fun of republican 15% more. yeah, look at the amazing bias!

AND if you look at the numbers between clinton and bush, clinton makes up more than that 15%.

so with those factors, and considering everyone in late night rode that lewinsky train WAY too long, he actually makes fun of more republicans than democrats, he just made fun of 1 democrat A LOT!

merrrrraanga • on Feb 5, 2014 7:37 am

oops, the word republicans in my first sentence should be demorats isntead.

fluffo • on Feb 5, 2014 7:37 am

You went a long way around just to talk bullshit, merrrrrranga.

8 of those years were the George W. Bush If You Aren’t With Us You’re With The Terrorists Years, in which Leno reached back to make Clinton jokes well into GWB’s second term, adding to the Clinton total. Leno didn’t make Bush jokes until he was damn near out the door (and it was safe to do so). See: the Dixie Chicks’ career dive during that same time period for talking against Bush.

Sick of right-wing victimhood.

PS: Love the DEMORATS “typo,” you ain’t slick.

merrrrraanga • on Feb 5, 2014 7:37 am

i knew i would be perceived as such, but your wrong.

for your information, i hate republicans and leno.

i just also hate people using statistics to vilify someone for no reason.

hate leno because he has never been funny or because he’s a duplicitous back stabber. not because you construed some number to make him fit some loathed political category. i have no idea if he’s republican or democrat. i could guess, but like most celebrities, if they’re not actually running for office or changing laws or bills i could not care less. they’re political affiliation makes as much difference to me, and the world, as the color of their underwear.

and yes it was a mistake in my thought processes that made me type the wrong party. i am sorry. no, i’m obviously not slick. and i and this is a tpyo. using an entire incorrect word isn’t.

and how would that help me be ‘slick’ anyway? i incorrectly restated the second to last sentence in the article. i was just reiterating information correctly. that doesn’t help me make any point whatever you perceive it to be…

merrrrraanga • on Feb 5, 2014 7:37 am

argh! “their political affiliation”

yeah… not slick…

my kingdom for an edit button!!

JohnInDC • on Feb 5, 2014 7:37 am

So incorrect. He’s a self-proclaimed Democrat. Leno has talked about making fun of all presidents. Think back to Leno’s first several weeks of hosting in 1992. Leno ripped George H. W. Bush – until Bush lost the 1992 election. Leno is no republic hack.

Ernesto Grubenmeyer • on Feb 5, 2014 7:37 am

Didn’t Lorne Michaels say this week that Democrats had no sense of humor? And that’s why SNL preferred to make fun of Republicans? No wonder Jay is getting the boot!

Mike • on Feb 5, 2014 7:37 am

His departure has nothing to do with politics. Why is everyone obsessed in this country with making everything a political issue these days?